The Journey - June 3, 2014

Psalm 19:1-3 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

For some reason, I am impressed with the magnificence of the heavens each summer in Oklahoma when we take our annual pilgrimage to visit family. Maybe my awareness is due to the big Oklahoma sky. Maybe it’s because we are away from the city lights. Or maybe it’s because during our time away, I slow down enough to look up (I hope that’s not the case). Often Lori and I stand outside and gaze at the stars. We check out the Big and Little Dipper, the Seven Sisters, the North Star, and a bunch of others constellations we don’t know the names for. But one thing’s for sure: The heavens declare the glory of God.

C. H. Spurgeon wrote that “the book of nature has three leaves, heaven, earth, and sea, of which heaven is the first and the most glorious, and by its aid we are able to see the beauties of the other two.” True, isn’t it? When we look up into the skies we see God’s glory shinning in the stars.

The same God, whose glory shines in the sky, desires to shine in you and through you. Paul says that he wants us to “shine like stars in the universe” (Philippians 2:15). Maybe you don’t feel much like shining. In fact, some circumstances in your life are making you feel rather drab and dull. Today I encourage you to look up. God loves you so much he sent his only Son to die on a cross just for you. Through Christ you can have a relationship with the God who hung the stars. Knowing him makes all the difference in the world…and throughout eternity.

Father, thank you for revealing yourself in the heavens. I pray that you would reveal yourself personally to all reading these words. Through Christ allow each of us to “shine like stars in the universe.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.